1. Introduction to Psychology
Language and Thought

2. Language
A language is a system of symbols, sounds, meanings, and rules of combination that allows for communication among humans
Phonemes: the smallest units of sound
Morphemes: the smallest units of meaning
Phrases are composed of morphemes
Sentences: strings of morphemes and phrases that express a thought or intention

3. Nonverbal Communication
Nonverbal communication includes:
vocal intonation
body language (crossed arms)
gestures (often involving the hands or fingers)
physical distance
facial expressions
touch

4. Language Development 100 basic phonemes Babbling (6 - 18 months)
Words ( months)
Vocabulary spurt (18 – 24 months)
Receptive vs. productive vocabulary
Fast Mapping
Over and Under-extensions
Overregularizations

5. Language Development The case for nurture: (behaviorist)
B.F. Skinner argued that children imitate the utterances of their parents
Skinner suggests that children receive differential reinforcement for speech sounds
The case for nature (Nativist)
Chomksy argued that language acquisition appears to be universal across culture (could not be accounted for by learning)
Interactionist

6. Critical Periods for Language Acquisition
Critical periods assume that an organism must develop a function within a limited time frame or it will not develop at all
Children easily learn second languages, adults have great difficulty
Isolated children have language impairments:
Genie: was isolated as a child and was unable to learn complex language as an adolescent

7. Problem Solving
Problem solving refers to the process by which we transform one situation into another to meet a goal
Problems vary by definition:
Well-defined versus ill-defined
Strategies of problem solving:
Algorithms are systematic procedures that will produce a solution to a problem
Hypothesis testing: make an educated guess about a problem; then test it
Mental simulation: mental rehearsal of the steps needed to solve a problem
© John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

8. Problem Solving: Barriers
Irrelevant information
Functional fixedness
Mental set
Unnecessary constraints

9. Approaches to Problem Solving
Algorithms
Heuristics
Forming sub-goals
Working backward
Searching for Analogies
Changing the representation of the problem

10. Finding Order in Random Events: The Hot Hand
Basketball players estimate they are 25% more likely to hit a basket after they have sunk one the shot before
The opposite is true: players were 6% more likely to sink a basket after a miss than a hit
Streaks are simply random sequences expected by the laws of probability
Gambler’s Fallacy
Illusory Correlations

11. The Base Rate Fallacy Fear of flying vs. driving Anthrax vs. influenza
SARS vs. viral encephalitis

12. The Impact of Vivid Events
Which of the following are more frequent causes of death in Canada?
Homicide or Diabetes
Flood or Pneumonia
All accidents or Stroke
All cancers or heart disease
Tornados or Alzheimer’s disease
Drowning or Leukemia
Motor vehicle accidents or cancer of the digestive system

13. Regression Toward the Average
Rookie of the year rarely has a better second season
Sports Illustrated Jinx